Research Databases at a Glance — Scopus, Elsevier, Web of Science and Free Resources
Research toolkit · One-page reference · Japan + worldwide
Find research. Understand access.
Scopus, Elsevier, Web of Science—and where to search for free.
ELSEVIER · company↓ Scopus: search and citations
↓ ScienceDirect: full-text platform
↓ ScienceDirect: full-text platform
CLARIVATE · company↓ Web of Science: research platform
↓ Core Collection: citation database
↓ Core Collection: citation database
| Name | What it is | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Elsevier | A publisher and research-information company. It provides Scopus and ScienceDirect. | A company, not one database. |
| Scopus | Elsevier’s abstract and citation database, covering many publishers. Find papers, references and citing studies. | Full searching generally requires a subscription, often through your university. |
| Web of Science | Clarivate’s platform; its Core Collection is a selected, multidisciplinary citation database. | Core Collection access requires an institutional subscription. |
| ScienceDirect | Elsevier’s platform for reading journal articles and book chapters. | Mix of open-access and subscription content. |
Scopus and Web of Science have different coverage and selection rules, so citation counts can differ. Neither subscription automatically unlocks every linked paper.
Worldwide resources
Free public search or reading; specialist services and APIs may have limits or charges.
Google ScholarBroad scholarly search; full text varies.
Semantic ScholarScientific discovery; full text varies.
OpenAlexOpen research and citation records; full text varies.
PubMedBiomedical abstracts; full text varies.
Europe PMCLife sciences; abstracts and many free papers.
DOAJDirectory of open-access journals and articles.
PubMed Central (PMC)Free full-text biomedical archive.
CORERepository research; many free full texts.
arXivPhysics, mathematics, computing and more; free manuscripts.
bioRxivFree life-science preprints.
ZenodoPapers, data and software; some files restricted.
UnpaywallFinds legal free copies; a helper, not a database.
Start here in Japan
Search in English and Japanese. Follow the full-text link and check the document’s access label.
CiNii ResearchPapers, books, dissertations and research information; full text varies.
J-STAGEJapanese scholarly journals; many free papers, some restricted.
IRDBJapanese university repositories; use the full-text filter.
JxivJST’s free preprint server; multiple disciplines.
J-GLOBALLinked science records, researchers and patents; full text varies.
KAKENFunded projects and research reports; not a full-paper library.
NDL SearchLibrary records and digital materials; access conditions vary.
CiNii service guide · J-STAGE access guide · NDL access rules